Who Is Emilia Clarke Really Playing In Secret Invasion?

Marvel's most recent trailer for their upcoming Disney+ series "Secret Invasion" not only sees Samuel L. Jackson back as the beloved eye-patch-wearing spymaster but also brings several other characters to tag along for the ride, both old and new. But while "Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke is a newer addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, her character has a more personal connection to the events of "Secret Invasion" than you might realize.

The show sees the world in the midst of a new threat as a shape-shifting army of Skrulls begin a silent takeover of Earth's major positions, and it's up to Nick Fury (Jackson) to stop them. Many outlets — Looper included — initially predicted that Clarke would take on the role of S.W.O.R.D. leader Abigail Brand. However, it has been revealed in an article by Vanity Fair that Clarke will be portraying G'iah, a Skrull radical who is fighting against the failing system established between the Skrulls and humanity. But G'iah's connection to this conflict runs far deeper than it might appear.

"Secret Invasion" may be the first Marvel project for Emilia Clarke, but her character has made an appearance in the MCU several years prior. Samuel L. Jackson, in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, reveals that G'iah first appeared in 2019's "Captain Marvel," saying, "Remember when Ben [Mendelsohn] was there with his wife and daughter. She's the little Skrull girl grown up. She's his daughter."

Since "Captain Marvel" took place in the mid-'90s, it makes sense that G'iah has evolved in age and beliefs. It'll be interesting to see what kind of relationship she has with her father, Talos (Mendelsohn), as his apparent failure to control the Skrulls will certainly cause conflict between the two. And if Clarke has anything to say about her character, we can expect that G'iah won't lie down without a fight.

"These people promised a lot of stuff a long time ago, and not a lot has happened. So understandably, a certain amount of resentment has been built," Clarke tells Vanity Fair. "There's a lot of emotions that live within her, and there's a lot of confrontational aspects to her character that have come from circumstance. You understand why she has the feelings that she does."